Fire agencies using new technology to help fight fires

Abernathy firefighters recently saved a house from complete ruin and protected the surrounding neighborhood with the help of a small device that can fit in your hand.

Fire Chief Kelly Vandygriff credits the device called FIT-5 — which uses fairly new technology to aid in fire suppression — with saving the house and preventing the fire from getting so out of control that it endangered nearby residences.

FIT-5, which stands for fire interruption technology, is a fairly new product that more and more fire department are using to help fight fires.

“It’s a good tool for the fire service,” Vandygriff said. “It’s going to save lives and properties.”

Abernathy firefighters first used the device back in February when they threw it inside the house in the 200 block of Avenue F. Several rooms in the house were engulfed in flames and heavy smoke was visible when fire personnel arrived in the Abernathy neighborhood.

“It probably saved us a good 2 1/2 hours of work,” Vandygriff said. “It’s like having another crew there.”

The Lubbock Fire Department this week has been evaluating the device for its own use.

Local and regional fire investigators employed the devices in test runs this week during a training school in Abernathy to see how well it worked.

Robert Loveless, Lubbock deputy fire marshal, said the device blows out an aerosol chemical when thrown into an enclosed fire. It helps lower the temperature inside the structure and knock some of it down before firefighters enter, which will reduce the risk to them.

“It’ll buy time,” he said, noting a police officer could throw the device in a burning home if arriving on scene before firefighters.

The device also helps reduce the amount of water required for a structure fire. He estimated 100 gallons of water in some cases compared to thousands.

But it only works in certain types of fires. The FIT product was designed for smaller, enclosed fires, Loveless said.

For example, it would work well when thrown into a room inside a home that is fully engulfed. The product was not designed, for example, attic or wall fires.

Loveless said he believes it would be of great benefit for smaller, volunteer departments that can’t get to fires as quickly.

Vandygriff agreed it was especially important for his community because fighting fires during the day can be challenging for the volunteer department.

Many of the firefighters have day jobs outside the town.

Abernathy, like many volunteer departments, also respond to fires in the county, and volunteer response times generally aren’t as quick as larger, paid agencies.

Still, Loveless said he believes it could be of benefit to the Lubbock department and likely would help save property and possibly lives in the city.

The devices retail at about $1,000 each. Loveless said the fire department might spend about $30,000 a year, if it decides to make the purchase.

If the city also outfitted all police cars with devices, it might cost closer to $400,000, Loveless estimated. However, if the homeowner has insurance, the fire department might get reimbursed by the company for deploying the product.

The investigator training school wraps up today. It drew firefighters from all over West Texas, including from Amarillo, Canyon and Pampa.